Vehicle wheel construction



Feb. 15, 1938. c. w. SINCLAIR 20,655

VEHICLE WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed March 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet lFeb. 15, 1938. c w sg c RG2. 20,655

VEHICLE WHEEL CONS TRUCTION Original Filed March 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Feb; 15, 1938. c. w. SINCLAIR VEHICLE WHEEL cowsnwcwrou 4 heets$heet 3Original Filed March 7, 1932 Feb. 15, 1938. c. w. SINCLAIR Re. 20,655

muons WHEEL cowsrmucwron Original Filed March 7, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Reissuecl Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE WHEELCONSTRUCTION Charles W. Sinclair, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesneassignments, to The Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Delaware 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to vehicle wheel constructions and hasparticular reference to improved means for mounting hub caps uponvehicle wheels.

Although the present invention may be employed with facility inconnection with various types of vehicle wheels, nevertheless, it findsparticular utility when employed in association with vehicle wheelshaving wood or pressed steel spoked wheel bodies wherein theconstruction of the latter renders it diflicult to provide fordetachably securing hub caps thereto.

The'present invention contemplates simplifying the problem of mount-inghub caps upon vehicle wheel bodies of the foregoing character byproviding the latter with relatively simple inexpensive means fashionedto readily detachably secure hub caps to the wheel bodies.

A further advantageous feature of the present invention resides in theprovision of mounting means of the type specified fashioned not only toprovide for readily detachably securing the caps to the wheel bodies,but at the same time to insure a rigid connection therebetween so as,

to prevent accidental disengagement of the caps from the wheel bodiesduring use.

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates theprovision of mounting means rendering it commercially practical toprovide relatively large diametered hub caps in association with spokedwheel bodies of the character hereinbefore set forth.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle wheel bodyhaving a hub cap secured thereto in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of Figure 1;

Figure 2a is a sectional view taken on the line 2a2a of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a spoked wheel bodyshowing still another modification of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 4a is a sectional view taken on the line 4a-4a of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 2, each showing differentalternativeforms of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a spoked vehiclewheel body with the hub cap removed for the sake of clearness andfeaturing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 8--8 ofFigure 7;

Figure 8a is a sectional view taken on the line Ila-8a of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a further modification ofthe present invention;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a pressed metalspoked wheel with the hub cap removed for the sake of clearness andshowing still another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Figure10.

For the purpose of illustration, the several embodiments of theinvention are shown herein as employed in connection with vehicle wheelsof the type having wood and pressed steel spoked wheel bodies. Indetail, the various modifications of the invention featured in Figures 1to 9, inclusive, are shown in connection with vehicle wheels havingwheel. bodies Ill comprising a plurality of radially extending wooden.spokes H secured together at the inner ends thereof by means of a spokeretaining ring I2. The retaining ring [2 is provided with a tubularportion [3 forming a seat for the inner ends of the spokes and fashionedto encircle the usual inner hub (not shown) of the wheel. The front endof the tubular portion I3 of the retainer I2 is provided with a radiallyoutwardly extending annular flange l4 embracing the front sides of thespokes and having openings l5 therethrough in alignment with suitableopenings through the inner ends of the spokes for receiving suitablefastener elements. The fastener elements are not shown herein, but maybe of any desirable type capable of readily detachably securing thewheel body to the inner hub.

As previously indicated, the present invention concerns itself moreparticularly with the provision of means for mounting a hub cap upon thefront side of the wheel body. The foregoing is accomplished in theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 2w byproviding a mounting ring l6 having a rearwardly extending flange I1 atthe periphery thereof engageable with the front side of the spoked wheelbody Ill radially beyond the outer edge of the annular flange M on theretaining ring I! and having the inner portions thereof bent forwardlyopposite the periphery of the annular flange M to provide an axiallyforwardly extending flange [8. The rearwardly extending annular flangeI! on the ring is of sufliclent length to position the inner surface ofthe intermediate connecting portion I 9 of the ring flush with the frontside of the radially extending flange I4 on the spoke retainer I2.

The ring IE is secured in the aforesaid position by means of a pluralityof brackets 28 located within the flange I8 and spaced circumferentiallyfrom each other. The brackets 20 are provided with depending flanges 2|embracing the front side of the annular flange I4 on the retaining ringI2 and clamped thereto by means of screws 22 extending through openingsin the annular flange I4 and anchored within the spokes II. The outerportions of the brackets 20 are bent forwardly to provide attachingflanges 23 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to depressed portions24 of the flange I8.

In order to permit readily securing a hub cap to the mounting ring I6, Iprovide a plurality of spring fingers 25 located within the flange I8 atcircumferentially spaced points. As shown particularly in Figure 1 ofthe drawings, the free end portions 26 of the flexible fingers 25 engagethe inner surfaces of the flange I8 at points spaced circumferentiallyfrom the brackets 29 and the opposite ends of the fingers are interposedbetween the flanges 23 on the brackets and the adjacent surfaces of thedepressed portions 24. The arrangement is such as to provide forsecuring the fingers and mounting ring IE to the brackets 20 by commonsecuring means. The spring fingers are secured under tension within theflange I8 so as to compress the free ends thereof into engagement withthe inner surfaces of the latter flange at the circumferentially spacedpoints aforesaid. As shown particularly in Figure 1, the free ends ofthe fingers 25 are provided with projections 21 extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom through suitable openings 28 formed in the flangeI8. The projections 21 are fashioned for snap engagement with a suitablehub cap 29 for securing the latter to the front side of the wheel body.

While the specific form of hub cap 29 may vary in accordance withdesign, nevertheless, I have shown the same herein for the purpose ofillustration as comprising a barrel portion 30 having a radiallyinwardly extending annular flange 3I at the rear end thereof ofsufiicient diameter to extend over the annular flange I6 on the mountingring for engagement with the front side of the connecting portion I9 ofthe latter. The inner edge of the flange 3I terminates in a forwardlyextending bead 32 fashioned to snap into engagement with the projections21 on the free ends of the flexible fingers 25. The arrangement is suchthat upon assembling the hub cap with the wheel body, the annular bead32 is piloted into engagement with the spring pressed projections 21 bythe forward ends of the flanges I8 whereupon continued axial movement ofthe cap rearwardly relative to the wheel body causes radial inwardmovement of the projections 27 until the bead 32 assumes a positionrearwardly of the projections, at which time the latter are returned totheir outermost positions in advance of the bead 32 by the action of thespring fingers 25. In this connection, it is to be noted that thedimension of the bead is so determined with respect to the space betweenthe projections 21 and the connecting wall I9 of the mounting ring as toprovide for securing the flange 3| of the hub cap under compressionagainst the mounting ring. The radial dimension of the flange 3I on therear end of the hub cap is so determined with respect to thecorresponding dimension of the connecting portion I 9 on the mountingring as to position the rear end portion of the cap substantially flushwith the rearwardly extending flange II on the ring. In other words, theforegoing construction is such that when the cap is in assembledrelation with the mounting ring, the same forms in effect a continuationof the rearwardly extending flange I "I on the latter, and inasmuch asthis flange engages the front side of the wheel body radially beyond theperiphery of the mounting ring, it will be apparent that the hub capcooperates with the mounting ring to conceal completely the spokeretaining ring. The opening through the front end of the barrel portion35 is closed by a suitable cap 35 having the peripheral portions 36thereof overlapping the front end of the barrel and suitably securedthereto.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 4a.is similar in construction to the embodiment of the invention shown inFigures 1 and 2 in that a mounting ring 40 is provided for readilydetachably securing a hub cap 43 to the wheel body. The ring 48,however, differs specifically from the mounting ring I6 hereinbeforedescribed in that portions of the axially forwardly extending flange 4!on the ring are severed and bent inwardly to provide a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced tongues 42. The tongues 42 are clamped to thefront side of the spoke retaining ring I2 by means of suitable screws 44having shank portions threaded'within the wooden spoked wheel body. Theabove construction is such as to permit eliminating the brackets 2!]featured in the above-described form of the invention.

The annular forwardly extending flange M on the retaining ring 45 isalso provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced springfingers 45 fastened to snap into engagement with the hub cap 43 uponassembling the latter with the wheel body. The spring fingers 45 in thepresent instance differ from the spring fingers 25 hereinbeforedescribed in that the same are rigidly secured intermediate the ends tothe inner surface of the annular flange 4! as at 45 and are providedwith projections 41 at the free ends thereof fashioned to extendradially outwardly through suitable openings formed in the annularflange 4 I. By reason of the above construction, it will be apparentthat each of the fingers engages the hub cap at circumferentially spacedpoints, thereby insuring an eflicient connection between the hub cap andwheel body. With the exception of the above diiferentiations the presentform of the invention is identical to the first-described modificationin that the spring fingers 45 normally maintain the hub cap 43 inengagement with the mounting ring 48 under compression and in that thelatter ring cooperates With the hub cap 43 to conceal completely thespoke retaining ring I2.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 5, the hub cap retaining ring59 is substantially l..- shaped in cross section having one of theflanges 51 thereof seated upon the periphery of the spoke retaining ringI2 and having the other flange 52 projecting radially outwardly from theflange in engagement with the front side of the wheel body. The flange52 is permanently secured to the wooden spoked wheel body by means ofsuitable screws 53, while the flange 5| projects axially forwardlybeyond the front side of the spoke retaining flange. The flange 5I isprovided with a plurality of spring fingers 54 fashioned to snap intoengagement with a suitable hub cap 55 for detachably securing the latterto the wheel body. While the fingers 54 may be any one of a number ofsuitable designs, I have shown the same herein for the purpose ofsimplicity as being identical in construction to the fingers 25 featuredin the first-described form of the invention. Briefly described, thefingers 54 are suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the flange 5!and are provided with projections 55 at the free ends thereof fashionedto extend radially outwardly through suitable openings formed in theflange 5| for snap engagement with the hub cap 55.

The hub cap 55 differs fromv either of the hub caps above referred toin. that the rear end thereof is provided with a return-bent portion. 56terminating in a bead for engaging the projections 55 on the springfingers 54. The length of the return-bent portion 56 is. so determinedas to provide for compressing the rear edge of the hub cap intoengagement with the front side of the flange 52 when the parts are inthe position shown in Figure 5.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, themounting ring for the hub cap is shown as formed integral with the spokeretaining ring l2. In detail, the front flange 14 of the spoke retainingring I2 terminates at the periphery thereof in a forwardly and axiallyextending annular flange 60. Located within the flange 60 and securedthereto at circumferentially spaced points is a plurality of springfingers 6| having projections 82 at the free ends thereof extendingradially outwardly through suitable openings 63 formed in the flange 60.For the purpose of illustration, the fingers El may be consideredidentical in construction to the fingers 25 in that the projectingportions 62 thereof are fashioned to snap into engagement with the rearend of a hub cap designated in Figure 6 by the reference character 64.The rear end of the hub cap 64 is of such diameter as to permitextending the same over the annular flange 60, and as will be observedfrom Figure 6, is provided with a forwardly and inwardly inclined flange65 terminating in a bead 66 for engaging the projecting portions 62 ofthe spring fingers 6|. The construction is such that when the cap is inassemble-d relation with the wheel body, the rear edge of the same iscompressed against the wheel body by the spring fingers radially beyondthe annular flange 6!! on the spoke retaining ring I2 so as toconcealcompletely the latter.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 8adiffers from either of the foregoing described forms of the invention inthat the front flange M of the spoke retaining ring I2 is provided withcircumferentially spaced extensions 68 adapted to be bent forwardly toprovide axially extending hub cap attaching portions 69. In manufacture,the spoke retaining ring I2 is preferably developed from a square blankhaving the corners thereof bent inwardly to form curved portions 10 andhaving the free ends of the latter bent laterally forwardly to provideaxially extending attaching portions 69. If desired, the aforesaidcorners of the blank may be ironed so as to increase the density of themetal forming the attaching portions 69.

By forming the attaching portions 69 in'the manner specified above, thesame possess sufficient resiliency to provide for obtaining the desiredsnap engagement with the hub cap 12 without the assistance of separatespring fingers of the type previously set forth. In the presentinstance, the hub cap 12 is provided with an annular inwardly extendingshoulder 13 intermediate the ends thereof fashioned to snap oversuitable bosses ll projecting outwardly from the forward ends of theattaching portions and is further provided at the rear end thereof withan outwardly and rearwardly curved portion I4 engageable with the frontside of the wooden spoked wheel body radially beyond the spoke retainingring 12 so as to conceal completely the latter.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 9 is substantiallythe same in con.- struction as the modification of the invention shownin Figures '7 and 8, with the exception that an annular ring 15 issecured to the rear end of the hub cap 16 for snap engagement with theattaching portions 11 extending forwardly from the spoke retaining ringl2. In detail, the rear edge of the hub cap 16 is return-bent over theadjacent edge of the ring 15 as at 18 for securing. the ring to theinner surface of the hub cap. The intermediate portions of the ring 15are bent inwardly to provide an annular bead I9 fashioned to snap intoengagement with the bosses 80 formed on the attaching portions 11. Thering 15, in addition to reinforcing the cap and providing for securingthe same to the attaching portions, is so designed as normally tocompress the rear edge of the hub cap against the front side of thewheel body radially beyond the spoke retaining ring so as completely toconceal the latter.

While the various embodiments of the invention previously described arestructurally different from each other, nevertheless, there are severalimportant features common to each of the modifications. For example,each of the abovedescribed forms of the invention contemplates theprovision of means at the front side of the wheel body fashioned forsnap engagement with a suitable hub cap. In each instance, the aforesaidmeans, in addition to forming a pilot for guiding the cap in assembledrelation with the wheel body, also provides for securing the cap undercompression in a position wherein the spoke retaining ring at the frontside of the wheel body is completely concealed from. view. It will beobserved from the previous descriptions of the several modificationsthat in each instance the hub capmountings constitute relatively simpleand inexpensive means for attaching large diameter hub caps to spokedwheel bodies. In featuring simplicity, attention may again be didirectedto the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures '7to 9, inclusive, wherein the hub cap attaching portions are fashioned bybending portions of the spoke retaining ring axially forwardly andwherein these portions are sufficiently resilient to provide for thedesired snap engagement of the hub caps therewith. Constructions of thislatter character offer the possibility of eliminating the provision ofseparate mounting rings and spring fingers of the type shown, forexample, in the firstdescribed form. of the invention.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, I have shown themanner in which a hub cap 90 may be readily detachably secured to ademountable wheel having a pressed metal spoked wheel body. In detail,the front side of the spoked wheel body is provided with a centrallyarranged annular portion 9| extending inwardly beyond the hub member 92and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 93 therein forreceiving portions of the hub cap upon assembling the latter with theWheel body. The hub cap 90 may be of any suitable shape and is provided.at the rear end thereof with an inwardly extending mounting ring 94. Inthe present instance, the mounting ring 94 is formed separately from thehub cap and is provided with a bead at the periphery thereof secured tothe rear end of the hub cap by crimping the latter end thereof over thebead. The inner portions of the mounting ring are fashioned to providean axially extending pilot 95 projecting rearwardly beyond the rear endof the hub cap for engaging the inner edges of the annular attachingportion 9| on the wheel body to guide the hub cap into engagement withthe latter.

In order to provide for readily detachably securing the hub cap to thewheel body, suitable U-shaped spring fingers 9B are carried by the capat circumferentially spaced points for engagement with the attachingportion 9! on the wheel body. The pilot 95 is severed atcircumferentially spaced points and the severed portions thereof arefashioned to form the spring fingers 96. In the present instance, thespring fingers are substantially U-shaped in cross section, having thefree ends thereof projecting radially outwardly beyond the pilot andfashioned to extend freely through the slots 93 formed in the attachingportion 9| of the Wheel body. The foregoing arrangement is such thatwhen it is desired to assemble the hub cap upon the wheel body, thepilot 95, which, incidentally, extends rearwardly beyond the free endsof the fingers, is engaged with the inner edges of the annular attachingportion 9| and the aforesaid ends of the fingers aligned with the slots93 aforesaid. When the free ends of the fingers have been properlyaligned with the slots, the cap is moved axially rearwardly relative tothe wheel body until the rear end of the same engages the front side ofthe wheel body, whereupon the fingers assume a position within the slotsso that rotation of the cap relative to the wheel body causes thefingers yieldably to engage the rear side of the attaching portion SIon'the wheel body and there by establish an interlocking connectionbetween the latter and the hub cap. If desired, the free ends of thefingers may be transversely bowed as shown in Figure 11 so as. to cam,in effect, the same into engagement with the. rear side of the attachingportion 9| on the wheel body upon rotation of the cap relative thereto.It will further be apparentfrom Figure 11 that the spring fingers are sodesigned as to secure the rear end of the hub cap under compressionagainst the front side of the wheel body, with the result that the hubcap is rigidly secured in place.

While in describing the various embodiments of the invention particularstress has been placed upon association thereof with Wood and pressedsteel spoked wheel bodies, nevertheless, it is to be understood that thesame are equally applicable for use in connection with various othertypes of Wheel bodies, and accordingly, reservation is made to make suchchanges as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vehicle wheel having in combination, a wheel body member, aretainer for the Wheel body member having a polygonally shaped portionat the front side of the wheel body member with the corners of saidportion extending axially forwardly from the member and of lessthickness than the body portion of the retainer to impart a limitedamount of flexibility to said corners, and a. hub cap for the wheel bodymember having a snap engagement with said corners.

2. A vehicle wheel having in combination a wheel body member, a retainerfor the wheel body member having a polygonally shaped portion at thefront side of said member with the corners of said portion extendingaxially forwardly and being of less thickness than the body portion ofthe retainer to impart a limited amount of flexibility to the corners,and a hub cap having a portion fashioned to snap into engagement withthe flexible corner portions and having another portion engageable withthe front side of the wheel body radially outwardly beyond the retainerfor concealing the latter.

3. The combination with a hub cap and an outer hub including a radiallyextending portion of means for detachably connecting the hub cap theretocomprising a plurality of L-shaped retention devices having one of theirlegs connected to the said radially extending portion and their otherlegs extending axially outwardly therefrom, the outer extremity of eachof said retention devices being deformed to engage cooperative meanscarried by the hub cap.

4. The combination with a Wheel of means for detachably connecting acover cap thereto, comprising a plurality of resilient spring clips having one of their ends rigidly secured to the wheel and their otherendsprojecting axially therefrom, each of said clips being provided witha plurality of oppositely directed bends between the points ofattachment and the points of contact between the cover cap and the clipswhereby the clips are flexed axially and radially.

CHARLES W. SINCLAIR.

